LED BACKLIGHT FOR FLAT PANEL DISPLAY
The backlight for a flat panel display preferably includes a light guide having a shape complementary to a visible surface of a flat panel display positioned beneath the display. The light guide has a first side edge and has an array of light emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged on a flexible printed circuit board and positioned in registry against the side edge of the light guide. A second array of LEDs may be arranged along a second side edge of the light guide to enhance the visibility and uniformity of illumination to the flat panel display.
1 . A backlight for a flat panel display comprising:
a light guide having a shape complementary to a visible surface of a flat panel display positioned beneath the display, the guide having a first side edge; and
an array of light emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged on a flexible printed circuit board and positioned in registry against the side edge of the light guide.
2 . The backlight of claim 1 , further comprising a second array of LEDs arranged along a second side edge of the light guide.
3 . The backlight of claim 1 , further comprising a diffuser plate sandwiched between the light guide and the flat panel display.
4 . The backlight of claim 2 wherein the second side edge is opposite the first side edge.
5 . The backlight according to claim 1 wherein the array is a linear array of LEDs.
6 . The backlight according to claim 5 , further comprising a second linear array of LEDs positioned against an opposite side edge of the light guide.
7 . A liquid crystal flat panel display assembly comprising:
a liquid crystal flat panel display;
a light guide having a shape complementary to at least a portion of the shape of the display beneath the display; and
a plurality of LEDs arranged along and against a first side edge of the light guide for directing light into the lighting guide.
8 . The display assembly of claim 7 , further comprising a second plurality of LEDs arranged along and adjacent to a second side edge of the light guide.
9 . The display assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a diffuser plate sandwiched between the light guide and the liquid crystal display.
10 . The display assembly of claim 7 wherein the LEDs are fastened to a flexible printed circuit board and faced against the side edge of the light guide.
11 . The display assembly of claim 7 wherein the light guide has a reflective coating applied to a bottom surface thereof.
12 . The display assembly of claim 10 , further comprising a second plurality of LEDs arranged in a linear array along an opposite side edge of the light guide, the LEDs being mounted on another flexible printed circuit board.
13 . The display assembly of claim 10 wherein the flexible printed circuit board includes a heat sink for dissipation of heat generated by the LEDs.
14 . A backlight for liquid crystal display assembly having a generally rectangular liquid crystal display shape, the backlight comprising:
a rectangular light guide positionable beneath the display, the light guide having first and second opposite side edges;
a first linear array of LEDs mounted on a flexible printed circuit board and oriented to face against the first side edge of the light guide; and
a second linear array of LEDs mounted on another flexible printed circuit board and oriented to face against the second opposite side edge of the light guide.
15 . The backlight according to claim 14 wherein spacing of the first and second arrays of LEDs are offset.
16 . The backlight according to claim 14 , further comprising a light reflective coating on the first and second side edges between adjacent LEDs.
17 . The backlight according to claim 16 , further comprising a bottom surface of the light guide having a reflective coating thereon.
18 . The backlight according to claim 14 wherein the first and second printed circuits are interconnected.